Religiously Motivated Murders – 2002

2002

Mr Ghulam Mustafa Mohsin of Pir Mahal, District T.T. Singh

Mr Ghulam Mustafa Mohsin, Ahmadi, was murdered at his home sometimes at night on January 10, 2002 by an unidentified killer. Mr. Mohsin had no personal enmity with anyone, however he was an active member of Ahmadiyya community. Most likely, he was targeted by religious extremists. He had received threats to his life in the past. Investigation showed that he was killed prior to bed-time. The assassin shot him from close quarters, as the bullet shot through his left eye, went out of the other side of his skull, and his cerebral matter was found spattered outside. The deceased left behind old parents, a widow, two daughters and a son.

Mr Maqsud Ahmad of Faisalabad

Mr Maqsud Ahmad, aged 36, was murdered at his home by unknown assailants at about 0730 on Sunday, September 1, 2002.

As per details available, Mr Maqsud’s family was preparing for breakfast when two armed men entered his house. Maqsud’s sister asked them the purpose of their visit, but the intruders told her curtly to keep quiet, and on seeing Mr Maqsud, opened a burst of fire at him. He was hit in the chest and in the stomach on the right side. One of their accomplices was on guard outside the front door. Having accomplished their grisly act, they fled from the scene of their crime.

The bleeding victim was rushed to the Allied Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Mr Maqsud earned his living through tailoring. He was a decent fellow who had no personal vendetta with anybody. He left behind a widow and four orphans – two sons and two daughters, aged 3 to 12 years.

The retreat of the government on the issue of letting Ahmadis participate in the Joint Electorate seems to have encouraged the anti-Ahmadiyya religious lobby to raise the level of their violence.

Dr Rashid Ahmad of Rahim Yar Khan

Dr Rashid Ahmad, an Ahmadiyya Community official was at his clinic at about 13.30 hr on November 9, 2002 when two men entered. One of them shot him with a pistol. The doctor was hit in his neck. The assailants attempted to flee after the attack, however the doctor’s assistant managed to catch one of them. At the latter’s indication, the police arrested two more. It seems that in all, four individuals were directly involved in the murder attempt. Those arrested were approximately 20 years old. They are religious extremists who have links with the banned Jaish Muhammad. Five accused were later reported to be in police custody for investigation.

Dr Rashid was taken to the hospital. His wound was deep, and he remained unconscious. Despite all efforts by the doctors to save his life, he succumbed to his fatal injury on 15th November.

Dr Rashid was a competent orthopedic surgeon. As a good doctor with sympathetic disposition, he was popular and liked even by non-Ahmadis in general. He was survived by a widow and four children. His youngest child was only 11 months old.

Mr. Abdul Waheed of Faisalabad

Imtiaz Shah, an anti-Ahmadi fanatic, notorious for his extremism, stabbed Mr. Abdul Waheed with a dagger, in the bazaar at about 1100 on November 14, 2002, and fled from the scene of his crime. The victim was taken to the hospital where he expired due to the fatal wound. When Abdul Waheed fell, the murderer announced to the people nearby that he had dispatched a Qadiani, and told them not to help the victim. Mr. Waheed lay there unattended for about half an hour before he was shifted to the hospital by one of his relatives. The doctors were of the opinion that had someone brought him to the hospital soon after the attack, his life could have been saved.

Imtiaz Shah was known to the police for his anti-Ahmadi activism. He had indulged in violent acts against Ahmadis in the past also, and Ahmadis had reported this dangerous criminal to the police. The negligent authorities however took a lenient and indulgent view of his conduct, and paid little attention to Ahmadis’ reports. This man has a police record and was an absconder in the past. However, he reappeared sometimes ago and remained free to pursue his nefarious activities. He is an ex-secretary of the Islamic Research Committee (Khatame Nabuwwat), Faisalabad.

Mr Abdul Waheed, the victim was 31 years old. He was married and is survived by his widow and three daughters aged 6, 4 and 2.

According to the daily DAWN of November 16, 2002, Imtiaz Shah courted arrest at the Civil Lines Police Station on Friday morning. According to the police he confessed to the crime during preliminary investigation, saying that he had stabbed to death Qadiani Abdul Waheed “as part of his religious duty”, the newspaper reported. The sources further claimed that Imtiaz Shah had told the police that he also intended to kill three Qadiani owners of the Al-Karim Medical Store in Gole Chiniot Bazaar, but failed to implement his plan as they were not available at their shop, reported the staff correspondent of the newspaper.

It is reasonable to assume that this sudden increase in tempo and violence in anti-Ahmadiyya campaign during November was the result of the success of the MMA at national elections. Fundamentalists feel very encouraged with the new political scene in the country, and have started taking initiative in this field where they enjoy plenty of immunity.